- A Beautiful Tomorrow - An Ambient Generation
. . . Push the Limits . . .
Ahhh sorry everyone! I haven't updated, I'm in Japan right now. And since I'm lazy and this chapter on the laptop I brought with me, I edited it up and updated. So bored right now anyways. I've been kicking butt in my uncle's dojo! Okay you guys don't really want to know about my life, ne? Hope this is an idle chappie. Roger Bacon makes an appearance. Ha. Enjoy.
Yuri sat at the kitchen table, Thursday morning feeling half asleep. He had found Anastasia wide awake at the table eating hot oatmeal and reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
"Can I PLEASE have something to eat?" Yuri opened his eyes, "Please?"
Anastasia didn't even look up from her book. "Mhm. I made you a fruit salad for breakfast. It's in the fridge."
He sat up quickly. "Really? For me?"
"No. Actually I made it for mom to take on her way to work… But she forgot."
Yuri rolled his eyes and went to the fridge. A neatly wrapped crystal bowl was awaiting him.
"Thank you." He murmured, snatching it up and quickly taking off the clear wrap and grabbing a piece of honey dew.
"Yuri?"
"What?" He said with his mouth full.
"Use a spoon." Anastasia turned a page in her thick 800 something paged book.
"Oh right. I knew that." Yuri sat back down at the table scratching his head.
Ana cleared her throat, "So, Yuri… how was your tutoring class?" She eyed him with obvious humor.
"It was hell" Yuri frowned, "Wait, who told you I went to tutoring?"
Anastasia looked up from her book and smirked, "Mom."
She clucked her tongue annoyingly, "God Yuri, you go to tutoring classes. That's really sad."
"Shut up, dork."
She made a silly face at him, "You must be really stupid."
Picking up her book, Anastasia quickly left, calling over her shoulder, "Even I don't go to tutoring."
Yuri disgustedly pushed away the fruit salad. He really didn't feel like eating any more.
When was he going to stop going for tutoring anyways? Never? For the whole school year would he have to go to Alice's place?
I have better things to do, He thought sullenly, getting up to get his shoulder bag. He might as well get to school.
Alice put the shower cap firmly over her head. Turning around nervously, she checked for any loose strands before going downstairs.
"Hi, Pumpkin!"
Alice secretly cringed before peeking at her mom, who was in the front hall rummaging through the coat closet.
Mrs. Elliot raised an eyebrow, "What's with the shower cap? New trend?" She chuckled to herself.
"Um, no… I uh, I have shampoo in my hair and…. I came downstairs toto get something." She was unfocused. But not by her mother; by the coat with the high collar hanging in the closet...
"Mom? Can I see that jacket?" She asked.
"Sure… but it's not really that cold outside. I don't think you should wear it." She handed her the leather jacket anyways.
Alice took it and pulled the collar up. Perfect, she smiled before running back upstairs.
Alice Elliot walked into the school building, head down, collar up, hair tucked in.
Hurrying to her locker, she switched books and pushed her back pack in the locker. Before she closed it, she grabbed a pair of scissors resting on one of the shelves. Making her way down the corridor, Alice headed towards the girls bathroom on the first floor.
Please let somebody be there, she silently prayed upon entering.
There was somebody there. But it was Lucia and she was busy applying makeup. Alice hesitated but decided that she couldn't go through the whole day with the jacket on and collar up.
"Excuse me?" Alice politely said, coming up from behind.
Lucia looked at her, "Yeah, what?"
"D-do you know how to… trim?" Alice gritted her teeth when she realized how dense she sounded.
The other girl turned around, "Trim? Do I know how to trim? Trim what?"
"Trim hair."
The cheerleader put her hands on her hips, "There's something called a salon."
"I know, I know." Alice said desperately, "But I need it trimmed now."
"I don't know how to trim!"
"Can you try?" Alice pleaded, "Please?"
Lucia made an awkward face, "Why can't you wait till after school so you can go to the salon and get it professionally done?"
"Because I don't want to wear this jacket all day! Please, just make it even!" Alice held out the scissors.
Lucia stood there for a second. She looked as if she was thinking about it. "Do you shower regularly?"
"Huh?" Alice was thrown off-guard by the sudden question. Lucia repeated her question.
"Yes, of course I do." Alice was a little offended by the question.
"Shampoo, condition, spray….? Do you do that?"
"Yes..." She winced.
"Okay." The dark haired girl finally gave in, "Let's see it."
Alice pulled out her hacked hair and Lucia eyed it apprehensively. "Do you usually cut your own hair?"
"No."
"Take off your jacket. The collar's gonna get in the way." She instructed. Alice obediently did as she was told.
"Okay what do I do…?" Lucia asked nervously.
"Just trim the longer hair and try to make it even."
The taller girl nodded, "Okay…here goes." Alice closed her eyes as Lucia "trimmed" her hair. Neither spoke throughout the whole thing, but Alice could see that her hair looked much better than before.
The warning bell suddenly rang, causing both the girls to jump.
"I gotta go." Lucia put the scissors down, grabbed her bag and ran out before Alice could even manage a "Thank you."
She slowly reached for the scissors and looked up at her reflection.
Her hair looked as if Lucia had trimmed it well. Shoving the scissors into her jacket pocket, and slinging the jacket over her arm, Alice quickly left. The minute she stepped from the bathroom
"ALI!"
She turned around to find Kurando striding towards her. As he walked closer, Alice noticed how his smile faded little by little. He took a step back. "What happened to your hair?" He asked quite surprised.
Alice shrugged. "I cut it." She looked at him suspiciously. "Kurando, the warning bell rang five minutes ago…shouldn't you be in class?"
"Shouldn't you?" He replied before producing a pass. "My car broke down and my dad had to get me a rental."
"Why couldn't you use one of your dads' cars?"
"Because my father would never let me touch his cars!" Kurando exclaimed indignantly.
Alice shook her head, "Can you drop me off home today? I don't feel like taking the bus and I don't feel like walking. Okay? Kurando? Hello?"
"Look who else decided to drop in late." The Japanese boy nodded towards the direction behind her. She turned around to see before catching sight and quickly turned back to Kurando. "Y-Yeah, well lets"
"You know what happened last night?" Kurando interrupted, "I fell asleep with my contact lens on. How irresponsible is that?"
"Um, veryc'mon, let's get to class!" Alice tried to steer him down the hall but he was busy blabbering.
"Kurando, you wear contacts at home?" She asked, glancing at his thin glasses.
"Of course."
She gave him a look. "Why don't you wear it to school?"
"Too hard. Contacts aren't for school, they're for home use." The black haired boy countered.
"No, it's the other way"
"THREE STUDENTS OUT IN THE HALLS?"
They both jumped as Mr. Simon suddenly walked down the hall towards them.
"Three people I would NEVER believe! Mr. Inugami, Ms. Elliot, and Mr. Hyuga! Do you have any idea"
Alice snatched the pass from Kurando's fingertips. "We have a pass." She quickly said, her smile faltering at his firm glare.
"Show it to me. All of you! Now!"
Kurando took his pass back and scurried up to him, apologizing and explaining all about his car problems. As Yuri passed her, she saw that he too, had a pass.
Alice felt her stomach tighten. She was the only one without a pass.
"Mhm, you may go Kurando." Mr. Simon said.
Kurando shot her a sympathetic look before walking towards Miss Iasant's class. She watched as Mr. Simon checked Yuri's pass. "Good, good, off you go Mr. Hyuga."
The older teacher's gaze followed her. "Ms. Elliot?"
Alice waited until Yuri had left before she walked up to her teacher. She was waiting for Yuri to leave the corridor, but he had taken barely five steps before Mr. Simon snapped impatiently.
"Well?"
"I don't have a pass." Alice said quietly, eyes cast down. Mr. Simon didn't say anything for a second. "Come with me."
The young woman sighed inwardly and followed him. He led her to the teachers lounge. Pointing to a chair, Mr. Simon went and sat at the teachers' meeting table.
Alice sat down silently, her hands shaking in dread.
"I wanted to tell you that a few days ago, I decided that you were ready for Advanced Calculus and could soon be leaving Pre-Calculus." Mr. Simon began solemnly, "But now…I'm not so sure anymore. You've been…slacking."
She looked at him through the fluffy bangs of her hair before quickly looking back down.
"I don't know what's happened to you, Ms. Elliot. I don't know what's happened to my best student." He continued pathetically, "You started cutting school"
"I did not" Alice started to protest.
"You have been DISRESPECTFUL," His voice drowned hers. "And you have fallen asleep in my class!"
"What?" Alice cried, "I never fell asleep!"
"You fell asleep!" Mr. Simon raised his voice slightly and she fell silent. "You have not done it beforethen suddenly, I see your head on your desk! You know Ms. Elliot; from the beginning I could see that you had a very promising future."
His words slowly took their effect and Alice began to feel worse.
"When the whole class would be asleep, or their attentions diverted, only you and Kurando would be sitting up, watching and listening…giving me your full attention. When I see all those heads on the desks I always ask myself; what is the point of teaching children who do not wish to learn?"
"Then my eyes land on yours and Kurando's face, staring at me with rapt attention. I realize it is worth teaching. Even if half of the class fails, at least I know I am helping someone learn and accomplish something."
Mr. Simon sighed. "But I can't force you to do anything. So make the choice now; if you want to get into Adv. Calculus, straighten up. Or, you can just give up everything."
Alice didn't know what to say. She had never been lectured before by a teacher and the feeling was quite frightening.
"I'm sorry Mr. Simon, honest. I didn't mean to mess up. I won't do it again. I promise I'll shape up." She said, sniffling pathetically, "Please let me go to Advanced Calculus."
Her teacher sighed again. "We'll see. I've taken half of Miss Iasant's time with you, so you had better hurry along." He held out something and Alice took hold of it, "I wrote down a pass for youoff you go."
She got up about to leave the room, but just before she touched the door handle, Mr. Simon called out to her; "Oh and, Alice?"
"Yes, Mr. Simon?"
"What happened to your hair?" He asked firmly.
"I…I cut it." Alice said, before hesitantly adding; "Why?"
Her teacher shrugged. "No reason. I just remember you with long hair. You never cut it."
"I know," she whispered to herself, "I hate it too." She turned and quickly left.
Alice was determined. Now nothing mattered. Nothing but school. For the rest of her high school years she'd just concentrate on her work and behave. She would do just that.
"Hello, Ms. Elliot." Miss Iasant greeted her as she entered the classroom.
Devoid of the snickers and giggles that filled the room, Alice kept her eyes on her teachers face and handed her the pass. "I'm sorry I'm late, Miss Iasant. I was talking with Mr. Simon."
"No problem at all." The young instructor gave her a calm smile, "I was just telling everybody about the test tomorrow. Please sit down."
Alice kept her chin up as she marched to her seat.
"Hi, ho." A boy whispered as she passed. She merely ignored him, although her fists were clenching at her sides. Alice sat down stiffly and kept her eyes on Miss Iasant's face.
"If everybody passes with a good grade, we can start on The Anthem."
Alice was furiously scribbling down what she was saying when she heard another boys' voice in her ear. Her hand froze.
"Hey slut, wanna hop on?"
She turned her head around when Miss Iasant had her back to them.
"Drop dead." She growled under her breath before turning back to the teacher.
The boy said not a word after that.
"What happened to your hair…?"
Alice twisted around and found herself face to face with Yuri. His face was blank and he just stared at her.
"W-what happened to w-what?" She sputtered, taking a step back.
"Your hair. What happened to it?"
Alice raised her chin boldly, "I cut it, okay?"
There was a pause before—
"It looks bad." Yuri said bluntly.
Alice felt her cheeks burn. "I didn't ask for your opinion," she hissed before turning away to slam her locker shut.
"You looked better with long hair." Yuri stated flatly.
Alice strode away from him, rage coursing through her veins. What aa bastard. He had no right to come up to her and tell her, her hair was hideous.
Well it is, She thought, But still. He made her so angry. One point he'd actually be considerate to her, and the next he'd act like a complete
"So what're you gonna DO about it?" A taunting voice reached her ears and Alice looked up. "L-Leave me alone!" a voice cried out shrilly. The voice sounded oddly familiar.
Alice's eyes landed on a small crowd forming around a group of "jocks", who were bullying somebody.
"You're such a loser, Inugami." The guy was pinning up poor Kurando.
Alice felt her heart skip a beat. They had Kurando! She desperately tried to get closer to her best friend, while in her head she was frantically trying to figure out what to do. As Alice drew nearer, she saw that the guy pinning Kurando was none other than Nicholai Conrad himself.
Hatred pumped through her bloodstream, and Alice watched in fear for Kurando as Nicholai slammed him into the lockers, causing a round of cheers from the crowd.
Oh, so now Nicholai was some kind of idol to the people that surrounded him. He was obviously enjoying all the attention.
Alice's heart went out for Kurando as she heard him give a pained whimper.
Her fear snapped and Alice angrily pushed through the crowd. Suddenly, she was standing right behind Nicholai. For a second, the fear came back but when she glanced at Kurando's crumpled state, she grew angry again.
"Leave him alone." She said quietly.
The green eyed youth and his buddies turned around. Alice's hands trembled as gleeful grins took over their faces.
"HEY NICHOLAI!" A loudmouth kid named Halley yelled, "IT'S YOUR HO!"
Everybody around them laughed openly and pressed in eagerly. Nicholai released the Japanese boy and turned to face her fully.
"Oh yeah, here's my ho!"
He stood taller than her, but Alice determinedly craned her neck and stared back at him. She could sense a small fear flickering in his eyes as he looked both ways quickly.
Alice briefly turned to Kurando to signal him to leave. He seemed to have received the message and climbed to his feet shakily before stumbling into the crowd.
Great, Alice thought ruefully. Now YOU have to deal with this. Alone.
"Hey, where you been, Sweetie?" Nicholai asked, with his voice loud.
Alice was concentrating on finding a way how to get away from there in her mind. Maybe she should turn around and run? Get lost in the crowd?
But wouldn't Nicholai and his friends chase her? It would look ridiculous. She imagined herself running with a group of fighters chasing after. Everybody would be watching… laughing their heads off at her. And if she ran into the girls' bathroomhell they probably would run in too.
"…In my car! ME AND MY HO! MAN, WE WERE SHACKING–ITUP!"
Alice suddenly became aware of what Nicholai was saying. As he continued to yell, fury beyond fury she had ever felt convulsed into her mind and body. His voice was ringing in her ears, and she could feel everyone's eyes on her.
Then without warning, Alice's hand slapped Nicholai across the face with all the strength she could muster.
For a second no one made a sound and she stood there, shaking as she stared at the bright red print on Nicholai's cheek.
…Then the whole hall exploded with cheers and screams of; "FIGHT, FIGHT!"
Nicholai let out an angry bellow and lunged at her. Alice stumbled back and let out a cry of fear. Her anger and boldness was gone.
She hadn't expected Nicholai to hit her back. But now that she thought of it, why not? He had slapped her twice before hadn't he?
Alice closed her eyes and waited for Nicholai's full weight to hit her and his punches kill her. But it didn't happen.
She was suddenly aware of the change in the atmosphere. The cheering and screaming grew even fiercer and she opened her eyes. Her mouth dropped open and Alice was too stunned to speak.
Yuri Hyuga was on top of a squirming Nicholai, punching him in the face. Blood spurted from Nicholai's nose and Alice weakly pushed her body away from them.
"Asshole." Yuri hissed venomously, "Why the fuck are you hitting girls for?"
He got up and yanked Nicholai roughly to his feet before forcefully slamming him into the locker, head first.
It looked even more painful up close and Alice was about to tell Yuri, 'Stop! You're going to hurt him!' when new voices joined to blaring;
Teachers.
They were shrieking for silence and Alice watched as Mr. Simon grabbed the back of Yuri's shirt and pulled him off of the battered Nicholai.
"CONRAD! HYUGA! MY OFFICE—NOW!" Alice sucked in her breath as the principal; Mr. Bacon came forward, his tiny body shaking rapidly.
"Come on, both of you." Mr. Simon joined in and snarled, pulling Nicholai to his feet before shoving him forward. Blood splattered on the linoleum ground as he stumbled past.
Maybe it was her imagination, but when Yuri passed by, their eyes briefly locked before he turned away.
Yes the end is cheesy but I love mushy-ness and this story doesn't have enough. I bet some of you have a little bit of a change of heart for Yuri now. That was my intention, for all of you to love Nicholai and hate Yuri. I hope I did a good job of that. Mwha-ha-ha! I love everyone who reviews this, you guys are great! I'm gonna go take some pictures now, I'm staying here till late April!
Now then,
SonChan – Aww a fan of mine! So cute! –pinch cheeks- Sorry I took so long!
Kendra – You'll see why Alice cut her hair. She was basically just having an angsty moment and didn't realize. I don't know why I wrote that they had so much pizza. Haha Hope you like this chapter!
Unknown Heart – Hiya! I see what you mean; I dislike high school fics too. I have no idea why I write this, just some little idea I popped up for the people that like reading these, and I'm actually having a fun time writing it. New chapter for ya.
Diabolic Angel – Changed your penname! Pretty! Yeah I love Alice's hair too, it will grow back. Did you search for Shadow Hearts yet? It's for PS2 to answer your question if you didn't know by now. XD
Angelic Kamaria – Yer crazy. Oo AND I BOUGHT A CAMERA!
psychedelic aya – See, Yuri gets better bit by bit. He's just stubborn. –kicks his little tush- And I hope I did a good job on my exams… seeing as I can't look at them, I'm all the way into Japan right now. Ugh.
Roxsheena – Hehe I got ya mad. Alice's hair isn't THAT short really. It's a lil below her chin, like a bob hairstyle, and Lucia fixed it up so it's not all scraggly. Eeep. Wow you live in Finland? That's so cool! I wish I could go.
MikoNoNyte – I should be out having fun, I know! But I'm so bored right now and I know lots of people pressed me on to write this chapter. Just thought you might've said something about it. Haha
Tiger5913 – Update my gift ficcy! Ahem, anyways I'm glad Lucia won too, I was hoping she would. She's more fun to write. Oh! I read your new XS fic but this laptop won't let me review. I don't know why, I wrote down what I was gonna say though, so when I come back home, you'll see a new review from moi! Love ya
Anime-Alee – Hiya, I really like your stories. Had to say it. And yes Yuri is hot, I wanna hump him. hahaha! Oh gosh. XD
Bella – My sweet Bella! How I have missed you. I bet you were waiting for awhile. Sorry sorry! I'm having too much fun in Japan right now. Heehee. Lucia makes an appearance, even though she acts kind of cold towards Alice, she'll change drastically. It's so cute what I have planned. Okay okay now spoils. –muuuuuuuah!-
Pyaara Wala – Alice cut her because she really didn't know what she doing at that time. I guess you could say cutting off her hair made her feel better. I don't know you need to ask a shrink. lol
Asnee – Isn't the first SH great? Hehe, what about Keith? Gotta love that dutch boy hairdo.
Setana – Hope you have a good time reading this. –looks at the Inuyasha highschool fics- Ew so crappy! XD
Heather – Hehe Kurando would look really cute in those glasses. Don't get too sad. Poor little Kurando in this chappie. –wipes tear-
Vi3t Gurl MOMO – Hey. Okay you're not a stalker. -; I read your Xenosaga fics. I'm really iffy on MOMOxJr. It's kinda pedo-ish but I like how they're kids in high school, they'd be such a cute couple if Jr. wasn't… a grown man mentally. DON'T KILL ME!
Crescent-Wish-Forever – Yuri and Karin together. Ick I hate that idea. It's obvious Yuri loves Alice. I played the first SH wasaaay back so I've been a fan. Karin didn't change my opinion. Yay you're a new fan of my fic. –hands out cookies-
/ A Lifeless Beauty /